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People with mental health problems are being left feeling isolated and ashamed, a survey by the Time to Change campaign has found.
More than 7,000 people were questioned in the survey, which is the biggest of its kind. Of the participants, nearly two thirds admitted to feeling isolated (64%), worthless (61%) and ashamed (60%) because of the stigma and discrimination they have faced.
The findings have been released on Time to Talk Day, a day when the nation is asked to have more open conversations about mental health in order to tackle this stigma. It is organised by the Time to Change campaign, which is run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
However, the survey also found that progress has been made, with over half of respondents (57%) saying it’s easier to talk about mental health problems than in previous years. 60% of people also felt better once they did start to talk about their mental health problems, saying they felt relieved and like a weight had been lifted.
That is why Time to Change, which receives funding from Comic Relief, is urging the nation to have more open conversations about mental health.
“This survey shows that stigma is still having a huge impact on how people feel about themselves and holding back their lives,” Sue Baker, director of Time to Change, said. “We have got to continue to make progress, show that mental health isn’t something to be ashamed of and tackle the causes of stigma and discrimination.
“Having a day when we encourage the nation to talk about mental health collectively can give people the confidence to have these conversations and show that you don’t have to be an expert on mental health. We need to replace silence and stigma with talking, greater understanding and support.”
You can join in the conversation online using the hashtag #timetotalk on Twitter or on Facebook(opens in new window). For information and to get involved in Time to Talk Day visit Time to Change's website(opens in new window).
